Jess King didn't expect anything to come easy in this campaign. As both a Democrat and a woman running for election to Congress, she was prepared to embark on what would undoubtedly be an uphill battle.

However, that hasn't stopped the first-time candidate from trying to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker in the newly redrawn 11th congressional district, which is rated as a “solid Republican” district in almost every national and local poll. The district includes Lancaster County and southeastern York County, a swath of Trump Country that the president won by 26 points.

And despite the Republican-voter advantage, King has run what is being widely considered the most successful grassroots field campaign Democrats have ever seen in Lancaster County or southern York County.

"Geography changes. But values, policies and ideas really don't," King said. "People don't fit on this neat little left or right spectrum anymore. So as we go and talk to people about the issues, we're finding that we're winning people regardless of political party."

King, the leader of ASSETS, an economic development organization in Lancaster and arguably the most progressive Democrat to ever run for the Lancaster County-based seat, would be the first woman to represent Lancaster in Washington, D.C., if elected to Congress.

"I have no political aspirations," King said during an interview with the York Daily Record. "This for me is not about a career move or power move — it's about needing to stand up for our values and fight for policies using the efforts that are probably the most impactful."

That's why King has made it a priority to meet with as many people as she can from the district. Her strategy is clear — she wants to get in front of the voters and talk to them face to face. And in doing that, King said she is more hopeful than ever.

"This is a strange political moment, I think we can all agree," King said. "We haven't seen politics play out quite like it is right now. We're winning Independents, we're winning Republicans. We're more alike than people think."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW.

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The York Daily Record editorial board interviews Jess King, Democratic candidate for U.S. House 11th Pa. District.
York Daily Record

Why she's running

Nonprofit executive Jess King poses with her family in Lancaster. King, a Democrat, is working to unseat Republican incumbent Lloyd Smucker in the newly redrawn 11th congressional district.(Photo: Submitted)

The 44-year-old Mennonite mother of two said many factors played into her decision to be on the ballot.

"Today in 2018, Pennsylvania has 18 representatives to the United States House," King paused. "And not one of them is woman."

King has two young daughters, aged 13 and 9 years old. So in a way, she said, it feels like she's running for them.

"We need a government that looks like us if we want it to fight for us," King said. "But this feels like a very worthwhile thing to be investing in because our future depends on it in so many ways."

King often thinks of her own upbringing. She said she was raised by the strongest woman she knows — her mother. Her father died in a plane crash when she was almost 2 years old. And her mother, Rebecca, was without a job and left to raise three children.

Something that has become abundantly clear during this campaign, King said, is that women are held to a different level of scrutiny.

She's found that people feel more free to ask her questions and offer suggestions that they would never offer to a man.

"I'm not running strictly because I'm a woman," King said. "I'm doing this because I believe it's how we can make this country work better for all of us. Our democracy doesn't work if we're not engaging in it."

Take a look at a brief breakdown of the Pa. governor race. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

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A quick breakdown of the 2018 Pa. gubernatorial race, feature democrat Tom Wolf and republican Scott Wagner.
John Buffone and Sam Ruland, York Daily Record

Where she stand on some major issues

Democrat Jess King and GOP Congressman Lloyd Smucker debate at Millersville University October 8, 2018.(Photo: witf)

In an interview with the York Daily Record, Smucker said that in all of the elections he's run in, there's never been a starker difference between the policies of two candidates.

However, both candidates seem to share the same philosophy: "If you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to get ahead."

The way to accomplish these things might be the difference between them.

She believes in creating a fair pathway to citizenship for all who call America home and ending cruel detainment and deportation policies.

► Abortion:

She believes abortion should be safe, legal and rare. She believes that if all women have access to comprehensive family planning resources and contraception, then there will be a decrease in abortions.

► Guns:

King supports the right to own guns, but also believes in protecting communities from assault weapons, banning bump stocks and accessories that transform legal guns into deadly automatic weapons, and creating a comprehensive system of background checks.

► Education:

She supports a debt-free public college, potentially by taxing Wall Street financial transactions.

► Election finances:

She wants to see campaign reform through overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that allowed unlimited campaign spending.

► Social Security:

She would oppose any raises of the retirement age and all cuts to Social Security.

Debate moderator Alex Trebek, of Jeopardy!, asks the audience to raise their hands if they already know who they are voting for in the state Governor's race prior to the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Governor Tom Wolf, a democrat from York County, gives his opening remarks prior to a debate against Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Audience members watch during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. The debate was between Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner and incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, both of York County. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, a democrat from York County, left, speaks while Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, right, watches during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Both are from York County. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Alex Trebek, of "Jeopardy!," left, speaks with incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, middle, and Republican challenger and former State Sen. Scott Wagner during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Scott Wagner, right, former state Sen. and Republican challenger for Governor, responds to Gov. Tom Wolf during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, left, speaks with challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, both of York County, during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

While discussing pensions, Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, right, gestures playing a violin during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record